It was hardware in the end. As a last-ditch measure before reinstalling Windows (ugh), I opened the box and blasted a powerful flashlight in there. I immediately noticed that the GPU fan wasn't turning. Uh-oh.
I fired up RealTemp to gauge the consequences. The GPU was idling (idling!) at 80-85°C and running at upwards of 90-105°C under load. As it happens, my card is rated to 105°C, and everything I could find on it said it locked up at or slightly below that temperature. Problem diagnosed.
I replaced the card with a brand-new one, and took the opportunity to seriously clean all the other fans and sinks. Now it idles at 41-43°C and has yet to pass 61°C under load. And all my games run perfectly. Flawlessly.
I paid for the replacement card up front. Whether I get a reimbursement depends on what the factory finds. If I let the card die of dust, well, that's my fault. If the bearings were crap, that's their fault. I gather they're honest about this. Either way, they'll refurbish it and send it back, whereupon I can put it in another PC, Craig's List it, decided to mess with SLI, or whatever.
no subject
It was hardware in the end. As a last-ditch measure before reinstalling Windows (ugh), I opened the box and blasted a powerful flashlight in there. I immediately noticed that the GPU fan wasn't turning. Uh-oh.
I fired up RealTemp to gauge the consequences. The GPU was idling (idling!) at 80-85°C and running at upwards of 90-105°C under load. As it happens, my card is rated to 105°C, and everything I could find on it said it locked up at or slightly below that temperature. Problem diagnosed.
I replaced the card with a brand-new one, and took the opportunity to seriously clean all the other fans and sinks. Now it idles at 41-43°C and has yet to pass 61°C under load. And all my games run perfectly. Flawlessly.
I paid for the replacement card up front. Whether I get a reimbursement depends on what the factory finds. If I let the card die of dust, well, that's my fault. If the bearings were crap, that's their fault. I gather they're honest about this. Either way, they'll refurbish it and send it back, whereupon I can put it in another PC, Craig's List it, decided to mess with SLI, or whatever.